As an IELTS teacher, I often encourage students to strive for their “personal best.” But what does this idiom really mean, and how can you talk about it effectively in the IELTS exam?
Understanding “Personal Best”
“Personal best” is a powerful phrase that signifies achieving your highest level of performance in a particular activity. It’s about exceeding your own previous achievements, not comparing yourself to others. This concept is relevant to the IELTS exam because it emphasizes individual progress and effort, which are key to achieving your desired band score.
Key Characteristics of a “Personal Best”:
- Individualized: Your personal best is unique to you and your abilities.
- Measurable: It usually involves a quantifiable achievement, like a faster time, a higher score, or a more complex piece of writing.
- Motivational: Striving for a personal best can be a powerful driver for self-improvement.
LSI Keywords:
- Peak performance
- Achieving one’s potential
- Self-improvement
- Exceeding limitations
- Setting goals
Using “Personal Best” in IELTS
You might encounter the concept of “personal best” in various sections of the IELTS:
- Speaking: You could be asked to describe a time you achieved a personal best or how you plan to achieve one in the future.
- Writing: You might need to discuss the importance of setting personal goals and striving for improvement in an essay.
Achieving Personal Best
Example Speaking Question:
“Tell me about a time you achieved a personal best.”
Possible Response:
“One time I achieved a personal best was when I ran a half-marathon. I’d been training for months, gradually increasing my distance and endurance. On race day, I felt strong and focused, and I managed to beat my target time by five minutes! It was an incredible feeling of accomplishment.”
Analysis: This response effectively uses descriptive language to convey the speaker’s sense of achievement. It also highlights the importance of setting goals and working hard to achieve them.
Example Writing Task 2:
“Some people believe that competition is the best motivator for success. Others believe that personal growth is more important. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.”
Possible Use of “Personal Best”:
“While healthy competition can certainly drive us to improve, I firmly believe that the pursuit of personal growth is a more sustainable and ultimately more rewarding motivator. Striving to continually better ourselves, to achieve our own personal best, fosters a sense of intrinsic motivation that is not reliant on external validation.”
Analysis: Here, the concept of “personal best” is used to support the argument for personal growth as a motivator. It helps to illustrate the idea of intrinsic motivation and continuous self-improvement.
Tips for IELTS Success:
- Reflect on your own experiences: Think about times you’ve achieved personal bests in different areas of your life. These examples can be valuable for both speaking and writing tasks.
- Use a range of vocabulary: Instead of repeating “personal best,” explore synonyms like “peak performance,” “achieving my full potential,” or “surpassing my previous limits.”
- Connect to IELTS themes: Relate the concept of “personal best” to common IELTS themes like education, work, or personal development.
Conclusion
Understanding and articulating the concept of “personal best” can be valuable in the IELTS exam. It allows you to showcase your ability to discuss personal growth, goal setting, and the importance of individual effort. By using vivid language and drawing on your own experiences, you can effectively incorporate this idiom into your responses and demonstrate a nuanced understanding of the English language.
